first shooting of new gun

clotus · 01-09-2008, 11:19 PM

Hey guys new to the forum but not new to firearms. Really stupid question to start of my stay here in the forum. I just bought a brand new kel-tec P3AT (small .380 handgun). Now for the stupid part........Do I need to do anything to it before I shoot it? Does it need to be broken down and cleaned/lubed or is the stuff on the slide good lube? For some reason A. I can't remember but once used to know

and B. I can't find the answer after over 30 min of internet searching. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

lefty o · 01-09-2008, 11:32 PM

it absolutely must be cleaned and lubed first.

stitchclimber · 01-09-2008, 11:44 PM

ditto it might be okay to shoot out of the box, but it's always a good idea to tear things apart, inspect it, and lube it yourself.

Windwalker · 01-10-2008, 06:14 AM

Clean and lube it.

nathangdad · 01-10-2008, 07:52 AM

Obviously, I have not seen your gun. It is my general experience new handguns often come heavily greased from the factory. I would disassemble it, clean off the packing grease, then lubricate it with a light weight gun oil.

Elk4me · 01-10-2008, 05:02 PM

My new Ruger P95 was very heavy with factory lube. I disassembled it and cleaned and lubed it.

Coeloptera · 01-10-2008, 05:10 PM

Piling on. I have never fired any new gun without stripping, cleaning, and oiling it first. You just never know how it was packed or what was used at the factory. Or conversely, I bought a display model shotgun and though it had never been fired, it was apparently wholly unlubricated.

Better safe than sorry...that and I like stripping a new firearm for the first time.

- Coeloptera

Cyrano · 01-10-2008, 05:27 PM

My two cents.

At the Academy we used to say, "When you assume something, all you do is make an ass out of u and me." There's something to that as far as dealing with firearms goes. Never assume a piece is ready to go fresh out of the box. Strip it down and see.

Maybe it IS ready to go. More likely it's covered in light packing grease or heavy cosmoline (for those of us who like milsurp weapons; ahhh, cosmoline.... there's no smell quite like it... ). In any event, if you field-strip it you will A) get better acquainted with your new play-pretty; and B) know for sure it is ready to be fired after you have cleaned it and lubed it. It's much better to know than to guess.

meatloaf · 01-10-2008, 10:26 PM

My gun dealer breaks down and cleans all of his new guns they are in perfect condition. If your not this lucky break it down and clean it then you have to do one more thing ...... Load it!

01-09-2008, 11:19 PM	#1
clotus Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1 Trader Rating: (0)	first shooting of new gun Hey guys new to the forum but not new to firearms. Really stupid question to start of my stay here in the forum. I just bought a brand new kel-tec P3AT (small .380 handgun). Now for the stupid part........Do I need to do anything to it before I shoot it? Does it need to be broken down and cleaned/lubed or is the stuff on the slide good lube? For some reason A. I can't remember but once used to know and B. I can't find the answer after over 30 min of internet searching. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

01-09-2008, 11:44 PM	#3
stitchclimber Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: The great northwest Posts: 928 Trader Rating: (0)	ditto it might be okay to shoot out of the box, but it's always a good idea to tear things apart, inspect it, and lube it yourself. __________________ turning up the radio, got just enough religion and a half tank of gas...

01-10-2008, 07:52 AM	#5
nathangdad Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 2,251 Trader Rating: (0)	Personal recommendation Obviously, I have not seen your gun. It is my general experience new handguns often come heavily greased from the factory. I would disassemble it, clean off the packing grease, then lubricate it with a light weight gun oil.

01-09-2008, 11:32 PM	#2
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 4,691 Trader Rating: (0)	it absolutely must be cleaned and lubed first.

01-10-2008, 06:14 AM	#4
Windwalker Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 3,281 Trader Rating: (0)	Clean and lube it.

01-10-2008, 05:02 PM	#6
Elk4me Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Lake Stevens, Washington Posts: 10 Trader Rating: (0)	My new Ruger P95 was very heavy with factory lube. I disassembled it and cleaned and lubed it.

01-10-2008, 05:10 PM	#7
Coeloptera Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 1,546 Trader Rating: (0)	Piling on. I have never fired any new gun without stripping, cleaning, and oiling it first. You just never know how it was packed or what was used at the factory. Or conversely, I bought a display model shotgun and though it had never been fired, it was apparently wholly unlubricated. Better safe than sorry...that and I like stripping a new firearm for the first time. - Coeloptera

01-10-2008, 05:27 PM	#8
Cyrano Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: New York Posts: 1,952 Trader Rating: (0)	My two cents. At the Academy we used to say, "When you assume something, all you do is make an ass out of u and me." There's something to that as far as dealing with firearms goes. Never assume a piece is ready to go fresh out of the box. Strip it down and see. Maybe it IS ready to go. More likely it's covered in light packing grease or heavy cosmoline (for those of us who like milsurp weapons; ahhh, cosmoline.... there's no smell quite like it... ). In any event, if you field-strip it you will A) get better acquainted with your new play-pretty; and B) know for sure it is ready to be fired after you have cleaned it and lubed it. It's much better to know than to guess.

01-10-2008, 10:26 PM	#9
meatloaf Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: lakewood CO Posts: 863 Trader Rating: (0)	My gun dealer breaks down and cleans all of his new guns they are in perfect condition. If your not this lucky break it down and clean it then you have to do one more thing ...... Load it!